Families of 1997-98 Kidnapped Activists to Propose Political Contract for Presidential Candidates
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21 December 2023 21:19 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Families of the victims of the severe human rights violations concerning the 1997-1998 activists' kidnappings stated that they will offer a political contract for the three running pair in the upcoming general elections.
"We will request their winning teams to meet the presidential candidate, and we will [directly] deliver the political contracts," said Paian Siahan, the father of Ucok Munandar Siahaan to Tempo on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Ucok was among the activists kidnapped by the Rose Team (Tim Mawar) of the Indonesian Army special forces, Kopassus.
According to Paian, the families of the forced disappearance victims will ask the presidential candidates to sign the contract stipulating their commitment to solving the human rights violation case.
On May 14, 1998, Ucok was reportedly kidnapped along with Hendra Hambali. He was last known going to Mall Ramayana in Ciputat to witness looting and burning happening in the area. Meanwhile, Hendra Hambal was last spotted by his neighbor at Glodok Plaza.
The political contract was proposed by families of the kidnapped activists as they believed the contesting candidates did not explain in detail what exactly is their plan to bring this case to justice.
Paian claimed that the contract would facilitate the families of the victims to demand the elected president to solve this case. "If they refuse, that they are not committed to resolving the grave violation of human rights case," he said.
The presidential candidates are asked in the contract to execute the four recommendations by the House of Representatives. The first is forming a human rights Ad Hoc tribunal. Second, demanding the elected president and relevant government institutions to search the 13 still missing activists.
Third, demanding the government to rehabilitate and compensate the families of the kidnapped activists, and lastly, the government must ratify the Anti-forced Disappearance Convention.
The three contesting presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaiming Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md, have not been notified about this proposed contract.
Besides Ucok and Hendra Hambali, the activists kidnapped during the New Order regime were Widji Thukul, Yadin Muhidin, Petrus Bima Anugrah, Suyat, M. Yusuf, Hermawan Hendrawan, Sony, Yang Afri, Ismail, Nova Alkatatiri, dan Dedi Hamdun.
IHSAN RELIUBUN
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